10 Best Primary and Secondary Schools in Cardiff

Written by Martha Lott
12th February 2019
(Last updated on Thursday 28th February 2019)

There’s a lot to think about when you’re moving house, especially if you’re moving with children. You have to consider what schools are in the area and if they are suitable for your children. That’s why we have created this handy guide featuring the best schools in Cardiff to help with your Cardiff move.

Using the latest results and data from School Guide and Estyn reports, we’ve put together a list of the 5 best secondary and primary schools in Cardiff along with the average property prices for each school's area.

5 Best High Schools in Cardiff

5. St Teilo’s Church in Wales High School

1400 pupils aged between 11 and 18, St Teilo’s Church in Wales High School has an A level average points score 760.4 which is above the national average of 730.6. 96.9% of its pupils achieved at least 2 A levels according to the latest Estyn report.

With a GCSE average capped 9 points score of 378, St Teilo’s school is again above the national average of 344.6.

The school is open to all with 1 in 6 pupils coming from minority ethnic backgrounds and 16% having a special educational need.

4. Radyr Comprehensive School

Named Sunday Times’ Best State Secondary School of The Year for Wales 2019, Radyr Comprehensive School is one of the better Cardiff secondary schools. There’s a high demand for places at the school with a lot of the 1307 pupils coming from areas outside of Cardiff such as Taffs Well, Church Village and Nantgarw.

An impressive 100% of Radyr Comprehensive School pupils achieved at least 2 A levels and 72.2% of pupils achieved 5+ A*-C grade GCSEs. Radyr Comprehensive have an above average A level average points score of 968.9.

Radyr Comprehensive School has an above the national average GCSE average capped 9 points score of 398.1.

3. Fitzalan High School

In 2017, Fitzalan High School gained a ‘double excellent’ rating by Estyn, which is extremely rare. Although pupils come from areas with high levels of social and economic disadvantage in Cardiff such as Ely, Canton and Butetown, Fitzalan High School has attendance levels of above the national average at 94.6%.

Students who achieve at least 2 A-levels is at a massive 99% which is again above the national average of 97.1%. Rated ‘green’ in the National School Categorisation System, Fitzalan High School doesn't require extra support from local education services.

The school has a GCSE average capped 9 points score of 378.1 which is above the national average at 344.6. With over 60 different languages spoken at Fitzalan High School, the school is open to all.

2. Cardiff High School

Cardiff High School is the second best high school in Cardiff on our list, with 1643 pupils coming from nearby areas of Cyncoed, Lakeside and Roath and an ‘excellent’ rating by Estyn.

Cardiff High School has a well above average score of pupils achieving 5+ GCSEs grade A*-C including Maths and English at 83.9% and 98.4% of their pupils achieved at least 2 A levels.

In 2016, 100% of Cardiff High School pupils achieved at least 5 GCSEs with 92% achieving both Maths and English, making it one of the best schools in Cardiff.

Cardiff High School sees a diverse intake of students, with 37% of their pupils coming from a minority ethnic background. The school has a high demand for places each year which has sparked criticism on the council to deal with the catchment area problem.

1. Bishop of Llandaff Church in Wales School

We’ve ranked Bishop of Llandaff Church in Wales School as the best Cardiff high school in our top 5. The school is based in the North-west of Cardiff and sees pupils from predominantly Cardiff, but also Barry, Llantwit Major, Bridgend, Llantrisant and Pontypridd.

Bishop of Llandaff school was not only rated ‘excellent’ in all five measures by the Estyn report of standards, wellbeing, teaching, leadership and care, but it’s also been named the best school in Wales by the Real Schools Guide 2018.

One of the highest achieving schools in Wales, 84.8% of Bishop of Llandaff pupils gained 5+ GCSEs of grades A*-C, including English and Maths as well as an A-level average points score of 921.9, which are both well above the national averages of 69.7% and 730.6.

The school currently has 1,228 students aged between 11 and 18 years and even has its own teaching facility for students with autism called the the Marion Centre.

Cost of Living Next to the Best Cardiff Secondary Schools

We've put together this table of the average property prices in the areas surrounding each of our top 5 secondary schools in Cardiff.

Secondary School

Average House Price

Average 3-bed House Price

Average Asking Rent (pcm)

Average 3-bed Rent (pcm)

Bishop of Llandaff Church in Wales School

£291,608

£240,404

£783

£888

Cardiff High School

£395,601

£309,413

£935

£995

Fitzalan High School

£213,635

£246,758

£788

£1,115

Radyr Comprehensive School

£357,983

£284,468

£689

£776

St Teilo’s Church in Wales High School

£395,601

£309,413

£935

£995

Data from Zoopla correct as of 2019.

5 Best Primary Schools in Cardiff

5. St. Peter's Primary School

With pupils coming mainly from Splott, Rumney, Llanrumney, Pentwyn and St Mellons, St. Peter’s Primary School has 93.2% of pupils achieving the expected outcome in the Foundation Phase areas of learning.

The school has an impressive 90.9% of its pupils reaching the expected level in core subjects and an attendance of 95.5% which is above the national average. St. Peter’s has a high demand for intake with about 40% of pupils come from outside the catchment area.

4. Ninian Park Primary School

Rated ‘good’ by the latest Estyn report, Ninian Park Primary School also was classed as ‘green’ in the National School Categorisation System. A massive 92.5% of pupils reached the expected level in core subjects and 84% of pupils achieved the expected outcome in the Foundation Phase areas of learning.

Approximately 92% of Ninian Park Primary School pupils come from 40 different ethnic minority backgrounds and holds a 94.1% attendance.

3. St. Patrick's Catholic Primary School

Although a Catholic school, St. Patrick’s Catholic Primary School sees only half its pupils coming from Catholic families. An impressive 95.3% of pupils achieved the expected outcome in the Foundation Phase areas of learning and 91.7% of pupils who have reached the expected level in core subjects.

Based in Grangetown, St. Patrick’s Catholic Primary School is open to all with the school describing its pupil intake coming from a range of social and religious backgrounds and 21% of pupils have additional learning needs.

2. Marlborough Primary School

With 95.6% of pupils achieving the expected outcome in the Foundation Phase areas of learning which is above the national average, Marlborough Primary School is one of the best primary schools in Cardiff.
Achieving a ‘green’ in the National School Categorisation System and a 'good' Estyn rating in all 5 inspection areas, Marlborough Primary School is a high achieving Cardiff primary school.

With an above average attendance at 96.6%, the schools sees pupils coming mainly from the Roath area in Cardiff. 88.5% of pupils reached the expected level in core subjects according to the School Guide.

1. St. Mary's Catholic Primary School

St. Mary’s Catholic Primary School in Canton is the top of our list of the best primary schools in Cardiff. Based in Canton, the school sees pupils coming mainly from Pontcanna, Canton and Riverside.

The school saw 100% of pupils achieving the expected outcome in the Foundation Phase areas of learning which is well above the national average of 87.3% and 92.3% pupils reached the expected level in core subjects.
With an Estyn rating of ‘good’, St. Mary’s has a 95.7% attendance and a majority of pupils coming from a catholic background.

Cost of Living Next to the Best Cardiff Primary Schools

Here's the average cost of property next to the best primary schools in Cardiff.

Primary School

Average House Price

Average 3-bed House Price

Average Asking Rent (pcm)

Average 3-bed Rent (pcm)

St. Mary's Catholic Primary School

£213,823

£249,699

£788

£1,100

Marlborough Primary School

£397,331

£312,494

£941

£994

St. Patrick's Catholic Primary School

£213,823

£249,699

£788

£1,100

Ninian Park Primary School

£213,823

£249,699

£788

£1,100

St. Peter's Primary School

£255,140

£197,795

£1,187

£1,025

Data from Zoopla correct as of 2019.

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